Dispenser unit



Jan. 28, 1969 1D. F. FRUEHLING 4 DISPENSER UNIT Filed March 20, 1967Sheet of 4 n IIVVENTOR R 65 DEL/WAR F. F/PUEHL/IVG 68 1 76 B WZW Jan.28, 1969 I D. F. FRUEHLING DISPENSER UNIT F iled March 20, 1967 Sheetomlm H III lOO

lNl/E/VTOR DELMA/P FFRUEHL/NG y EH United States Patent 8 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The dispenser unit including a support framefor accommodating a plurality of metal cans, two sets of piercingdevices for piercing each of the can, gas passage means connecting oneset of piercing tips to a gas supply holder and pressure regulator, andliquid passage means connecting the other set of piercing tips toproduct dispensing valves for dispensing the contents of any containerunder pressure. In one embodiment, separate gas shutoff valves arepresent for each container so that the containers can be individuallyremoved or replaced without disturbing the pressure in the othercontainers. A piston type regulator and small puncturable gas pressuresupply source are described.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The field of thepresent invention is that of beverage dispensers, and particularlydispensers for home beverage consumption. This field generally comprisesany dispenser used in association with, but independent of, thecontainers and which use miniaturized gas cylinders as a pressuresource, a fixed or adjustable pressure regulator to provide dispensingpressure and, if desired, maintaining carbonation, and which includemeans for puncturing the sealed container, as well as valve means fordispensing the product of manipulating the valve.

Description of the prior art In general, prior art dispensing devicesfor dispensing beer and beverages from large volume containers fall intoseveral different classes. First is the common commercial type of beerand soft drink dispenser, typified in that a large container, such as afull, half, or quarter barrel of beer, or several gallon container ofsoft drinks is pressurized from a large gas cylinder under the controlof a diaphragm reguator, and a product is dispensed from a remote orproximate valve. The beer dispenser units are commonly used in bars andtaverns and the soft drink units are commonly used in ball parks, wherea professional salesman carries the large heavy unit mounted on hisback. These units are large, expensive and cannot be economicallyjustified except on a commercial scale of usage.

Another class of dispenser which is common is with a type in which thedispenser and regulator are built intergrally with a medium-sizedcontainer, such as the well known 2% gallon beer or soft drink barrel.These constructions are described for example in US. Patents Nos.3,232,485, 3,243,085, 3,239,101, and 3,195,788, all issued to John B.Wilson. In such devices, the entire container is returnable andrefillable since the expensive regulator is built into the container.

Other known prior art devices use even smaller size containers, whichmay be specially constructed, but which are nonetheless separate orseparable from the dispenser. The Knapp et al. Patent No. 3,006,515, andthe Tracy, et a1. Patent No. 3,291,343, illustrate such units.Dispensers such as that described in the Tracy patent have Patented Jan.28, 1969 achieved significant commercial success, some 300,000 unitshaving been sold to date.

Multiple pack dispensers are known, generally speaking, but many, if notall of these units are more on the order of a cabinet for containing anumber of individual, self pressurized containers, such as bathroomcabinet devices for holding aerosol shaving cream, toothpaste, hairspray and the like.

The applicant is not aware of any multiple package dispensers in which athrow away can may be accommodated, punctured, pressurized and thecontents dispensed therefrom in a highly simple manner. Such a dispenseroffers many advantages. However, since large containers, say of one ortwo gallons or more, are bulky and hard to handle, and since Women andchildren have difliculty handling even smaller sizes, prior known,single container units have not been entirely satisfactory for all uses.In addition, it is ditficult to accommodate pressure in large throw-awaycontainers, since such containers have a small surface to volume ratio,and thus lack strength. For example, cans commonly made in the canindustry today in the 8, l2 and 13 ounce sizes readily hold pressures upto pounds per square inch (p.s.i.), whereas a one gallon size can, evenif made with a relatively thick metal, and having an end with a verydeep countersink or chuck wall, may not satisfactorily hold more than 30psi. Accordingly, the advantages of throw away containers in small ormedium, more conveniently sized containers can be combined with theadvantages of external pressure supply dispensing, as in the case ofdraft beer, for example, by the use of a single bodied, single regulatorand pressure source type dispenser which holds a plurality of cans. Forexample, three 46 ounce cans, which may hold soft drinks, beer, singlestrength juices or fruit and vegetable preparations, or the like, may beaccommodated in a single unit.

Summary of the invention In view of the shortcomings referred to above,which characterized prior known dispensers, an object of the presentinvention is to provide a multi-pack dispenser with a single regulator.

Another object is to provide a multi-pack, single-regulator typedispenser with individual product valves, and which can thereforedispense various or differing products or flavors from the samedispenser.

An additional object is to provide a dispenser in which individual cansmay be removed and replaced without disturbing the pressure in, orproduct flow from, the other containers in the dispenser.

The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art andachieves its objects and advantages by providing a liquid dispenserunit, including a frame for receiving a plurality of cans, a first setof piercing tips for piercing the cans, a second set of piercing tipsalso adapted to pierce the cans, means for accommodating a pressurizedgas and for regulating the pressure thereof; a product discharge valvewhich can be operated manually, gas passages connecting the first set oftips with the pressure regulator, and product passages connecting thesecond set of tips with the product valve, so that cans placed in thedispenser can be pierced and the products therein discharged under aconstant pressure under the control of the manually operated productvalve.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention,including those inherent therein, and the manner of their attainment,will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with adescription of the preferred embodiments of the invention, contained inthe following specification and claims, and as shown in the drawingsbelow, in which like reference numerals denote corresponding partsthroughout.

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of Oneembodiment of the liquid dispenser unit of the present invention, whichaccommodates a plurality of cans;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a dispenser unit of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a gas taken along lines 33 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 2,taken along lines 4-4 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the dispenser takenalong lines 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of thedispenser unit of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a gas control valve, taken alonglines 77 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,the dispenser unit is shown generally to include a frame assembly 22 andproduct valve assembly 24, a tumbler shelf 26 and a plurality ofcontainers 28 disposed in position of use in the unit.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that a cartridge holder andpressure regulator assembly 30 is provided for supplying gas pressure tothe containers.

FIG. 2 also shows that this embodiment comprises legs 32, a bottom wall34 of which the tumbler shelf 26 is an extension, a vertical front wall36, vertical rear wall 38, horizontal top wall connected to the frontand rear walls 36 and 38, locking means in the form of a bolt and wingnut 42, and a cover hinge 44 joining the top wall 40 to the rear walls38. An intermediate horizontal guide member 46 is provided, for reasonswhich will appear later herein.

Disposed in the top wall 40 are three piercing tips 48 surrounded byrubber sealing gaskets 50. A gas passage 52 is connected to theinteriors of the tips 48, and this passage, in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, includes a vertical section 54 in which a valve actuator56 is located. The vertical section 54 terminates in a rubber or likeresilient sealing gasket 58.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a mounting block 60 supports avalve body 62, which terminates in an upwardly extending nose portion 64adapted to a register with the seal 58, a valve seat 66, disposed at thebottom of valve body 62 is adapted to receive a valve head 68 when thevalve stem 70 mounted in the body 62 moves upward in response to theforce of the spring 74. When the cover unit 40 is closed, that is, whenit is in the position shown in FIG. 3, the actuator 56 depresses thestem 70, releasing the head 68, and allowing the gas to pass from theregulator extension 76 through the passages 78 which surround the stem74. In this manner, gas coming from the regulator 30 to the regulatorextension 78 passes through passages 52 and down to the tips 48, andinto the cans 28 situated therebelow.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the bottom wall 34 includesa plurality of wells 80 which may be formed, at least in part, from theauxiliary guide member 82. The wells 80 include therein smalldiscontinuous protuberances, beads or nibs 84 which are adapted to snapover the lower double seam of a container 28 to hold it in position.

Disposed in the wells 80 are 3 lower piercing tips 86 having sharpenedpoints or edges 88. A soft rubber or like seal 90 surrounds each tip 86and surmounts a firmer bottom seal 92. Product passage means in the formof flexible tubes 94 connect the tips 86 to the product outlet 96.

These tubes 94 extend through the vertical front wall 36 and into theproduct valve assembly 24. The product valve assembly 24 comprises anouter stationary member 98, a lower spring support 100, and a spring 102which valve unit,

biase's'a fnovable valve body 104 upwardly so that the lower,semi-circular surface of the tube opening 106 thereof pinches the tube94 between the body 104 and a transverse rod 108. A shroud 110 coversthe outlet end 96 of tube 94, and suitable fasteners 112 (FIG. 5) holdthe assembly 24 in position.

Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that downward pressure on the topsurface 114 of a valve body 104 will move the lower surface of theopening 106 out of contact with the hose 94, while overcoming the forceof the spring 102, thereby allowing product to flow out the end 96 ofthe tube 94. The rod 108 extends across all three openings 106 in thevalve bodies 104.

Referring again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that intermediate horizontalguide member 46 includes circular guide openings 118 which arepreferably the same size as the wells 80 and which are disposed abovethe wells 80 and aligned therewith. An opening 120 for the tubes 94 anda support member 122 for the regulator 30 are provided in the guidemember 46 which is held in place by suitable means in the form of screws124.

In the use of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, the fastener42 is loosened, the cover 40 is raised and cans 28 are inserted throughthe openings 118 into the wells 80. The cans are seated in the well 80with the bottom seams held in place by a discontinuous bead 84 extendinginwardly only a few thousandths of an inch. This bead is preferably inthe form of a ridge or several nibs spaced apart along the side walls ofthe wells 80. The top surfaces 88 of the piercing tips 86 piercing thebottoms of the cans, and the cans are held in place in a liquid-tightrelation. Thereafter, the top 40 is lowered and locked in place by thefastener 42. This action simultaneously moves the valve stem 70 (FIG. 3)downwardly through the passage 52 and thence to the interior of the cans28, the tips 48 having pierced the cans and become sealed by reason ofthe seals 50. A downward push of the top surface 114 of the valve body104 releases the pressure between the rod 108 and the bottom surface ofthe opening 106 of the valve body 104, opening the product passage 94and allowing product to flow out the end 96 of the tube 94. By pushingany one of the valve bodies 104, the product contained in thecorresponding can will be dispensed.

Operation of the pressure regulator will be referred to further herein.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modified form of the dispenser unit of the presentinvention. In this embodiment, the frame and top cover assemblies aresimilar, but the locations of the pressure regulator and the piercingtips differ from those shown in the first embodiment. Thus, thedispenser unit 20a includes a frame assembly 22a 9. product valveassembly 24a and tubular shelf 26a and a plurality of containers 28adisposed in position of use in a dispenser. The gas regulator unit 30ais shown to be attached to and disposed beneath a bottom wall 34a. Theregulator 30a includes a piston housing section 126, a cylinder housingsection 128 and a cap and piercing tip assembly 130. A gas cartridge 132supplies pressure thereto, and the gas escapes through the port 134 andinto the gas passage means 52a, in the form of plastic or metal tubes.

The pressure regulator 30a referred to herein, as well as the pressureregulator 30 referred to in the first embodiment, are well known in theart, and comprise means for housing a miniature gas cartridge andregulating the pressure of the gas emerging therefrom by means of apiston operated valve, and allowing the gas to exit at a desired lowpressure to a gas port or outlet. Regulators of this type areillustrated, for example, in the Tracy, et al. Patent No. 3,291,343,issued Dec. 13, 1966, and in Tracy, et al. Application Ser. No. 496,585,filed Oct. 15, 1965, now Patent No. 3,352,457, both application andpatent belonging to the assignee of the applicant herein.

This patent and this application illustrate a regulator in which thepressure responsive means is a piston, but it will beiunderstood that adiaphragm type regulator operpiercing tip assembly is placed over thecylinder 128 after a cartridge 132 has been inserted therein, and afterthe cap 130 is manipulated, the pressure is released from the cartridge132 and passes into the gas passages 52a, in the manner referred toherein.

Referring further to FIG. 6, it will be seen that front and rearvertical walls 36, 36a support a top unit 40a, which is held in place,at one end, by fastener means in the form of a bolt and nut assembly42a, and at the other end thereof by hinge 44a. .An. intermediatehorizontal guide member 46a extends between the front and rear walls36a, 38a, and is located in position by fasteners 124a. This guide 46 acontains a plurality of guide openings 118a. The bottom wall 34aincludes a plurality of wells 80, which are formed, at least in part,from an auxiliary guide member 82a. Snap locking nibs 84a or the likeare spaced apart on the side walls of the wells 80 and are provided forsnapping over the bottom seam of a can 2 841 110 lock it in position inthewells 80.

Three lower piercing tips 86a are located in the wells 80, each havinga'pointed piercing tip 88a and being surrounded by a soft rubber or likeseal 90a, which in turn surmounts a bottom seal 92a. Product passagetips 92a are connected to each of the piercing tips 86a.

These tubes 94a extend through the vertical front wall 36 and into theproduct valve assembly 24, which comprises an outer stationary member98a, a lower spring support 100a and a spring 102a for biasing a movablevalve body 104a upwardly so that the lower, semi-circular surface of thetube opening 106 pinches the tube 94 between the valve body 104 and atransverse rod 108. A shroud 110a covers the outlet end 96a of the tube94a.

The product valve assembly for the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is similarto that shown in FIG. 5, which relates to the first embodiment, andoperation thereof is the same as the operation of the valve assembly 24,described above.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, gas passage elbows 136 are providedfor directing the gas from passages 52a into the individual gas valveassemblies 138, each of which contains a valve body 140, inlet and outet gas passages 142, 144, a valve stem 146, a valve actuator 148, avalve head 150 and a seat 152. The head 150 is urged against the seat152 by a spring 154. A seal 156 is provided for the stem 146. A gaspiercing tip 158 extends through the seals 90a, 92a, as does the valveactuator 148.

In the operation of this embodiment, after the gas cartridge 132 isinserted and pierced, the gas passage 52a is pressurized, but gas cannotflow through the gas piercing tips 158, since the springs 154 hold theheads 150 against the seats 152. However, when a can 28a is inserted,the seal 90a is depressed to seal the bottom of the can, then the edge88a of the product piercing tip 86a pierces the can. The gas piercingtip 158 also pierces the can bottom, and, as the can moves downwardly,the valve actuator 148 is depressed. The elements of the valve assembly138 are arranged so that when the bottom of the can is locked into placeby the beads 84a the valve 138 is opened. Thus, in this preferredembodiment, the can is sealed from the bottom, pierced, locked in place,and pressurized, in that order. Closing the cover 30a on top of the canshelps maintain the cans in place, but if the locking rib or bead 84a isdesigned appropriately, it is not strictly necessary in accordance withthe present invention, that the top, or even the remaining guide andside members 36a, 38a, 118a of the device be present. If these membersare partially or completely omitted, the valve assembly 24, or itsequivalent, may be disposed in any other desired location, and supportedby any suitable well known means.

If the present invention is used with beer, soft drinks, or the like thepressure is regulated appropriately, preferably to 6 to 14 p.s.i., andcarbon dioxide is used.

If other types of products are dispensed, it may be desired to use gaswhich is less soluable in the product, is chemically inert, or possessesother desirable characteristics. Thus, the gas cartridge 132 may containair, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, or a halocarbon gas (such as Freon brandfluorocarbons). The illustrated valve assembly 24 is a simple andeconomical assembly, but other equivalent units are known in thedispenser art, and it is anticipated such units may be used with thepresent invention.

The gas and product tubes and passages 52, 52a, 94, 94a, are shown ascomprising rubber or plastic tubing or passage ways drilled in the frameunit. It will be obvious that other equivalent constructions may besubstituted for the embodiment described.

In addition, the frame members are shown in the drawings as being steel,but since these components are not highly stressed, it is contemplatedthat plastic or other material may be substituted therefor, and asnap-on clip or the like may replace the fastener 42, 42a. The lockingheads or nibs 84 are preferably integrally formed in the Wells in aplastic framed unit. Suitable plastic materials, such as A.B.S.(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), Delrin brand acetal plastic, or asuitable acrylic or olefin plastic, such as polymethyl methacrylate orpolypropylene may also be used.

Two different systems of gas control are illustrated, one of whichpressurizes all the cans simultaneously, and one of which pressurizesthem individually. Either embodiment may use either form of gas control.Thus, it is desirable, but not essential, the gas cartridge may beremoved and replaced independently of the manipulation of the cans, andthat the cans be removable individually, but these requirements are onlypreferred, and not strictly necessary in accordance with the presentinvention.

It will thus be seen, from the above description, and from the appendedclaims, taken in conjunction with the drawings, that the presentinvention provides a new and useful dispenser unit having a number ofnovel advantages and characteristics, including those hereinbeforepointed out and others which are inherent therein. I contemplate thatcertain changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A liquid dispenser unit, comprising, in combination,

(a) Frame means for accommodating a plurality of can type containerstherein, and, attached to said frame means,

(b) A first set of piercing tips for piercing each of said cans,

(c) A second set of piercing tips for piercing each of said cans,

(d) A gas pressure supply holder, including pressure regulator meanstherein,

(e) Manually operable product discharge control valve means,

(f) Gas passage means connecting said first set of tips with saidpressure regulator means, said gas passage means comprising anindividual gas passage for each tip and which further includes, for eachpiercing tip of said first set of piercing tips, valve means for closingsaid individual gas passage means, said valve means being normallybiased to a closed position, said value means further includingactuating means for contacting cans placed in said unit and therebyopening said valve means when a can is positioned in said dispenserunit, and

(g) Product passage means connecting said second set of tips with saidcontrol valve means, whereby cans may be placed in said dispenser andpierced by both sets of tips and whereby product contained in said canmay be dispensed from said valve means under gas pressure from saidregulator means.

2. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 1 in which first and second setsof piercing tips include resilient means for forming a gas-tight and aliquid-tight seal, respectively, between said tips and cans contained insaid unit.

3. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 1 which further includes valvemeans for closing said gas passage means when said cover unit is open,and for opening said gas passage means when said cover unit is in aclosed position.

4. A liquid dispenser unit, comprising in combination,

(a) Frame means for accommodating a plurality of can type containerstherein, said frame means including a bottom wall member having aplurality of can-accommodating wells for locating said cans in a desiredposition in said dispenser, said wells including locking means beingadapted to engage a container seam to lock a container in place in saidwell, and attached to said frame means,

('b) A first set of piercing tips for piercing each of said cans,

(c) A second set of piercing tips for piercing each of said cans,

(d) A gas pressure supply holder, including pressure regulator meanstherein,

(e) manually operable product discharge control valve means,

(f) Gas passage means connecting said first set of tips with saidpressure regulator means, and

(g) Product passage means connecting said second set of tips with saidcontrol valve means, whereby cans may be placed in said dispenser andpierced by both sets of tips, and whereby product contained in said canmay be dispensed from said valve means under gas pressure from saidregulator means.

5. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 4 in which said frame meansincludes a movable cover unit having one set of said piercing tipsfixedly attached thereto.

6. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 4 in which said frame meansincludes at least one horizontally extending guide member having aplurality of openings being substantially the same size as the size ofcans to be accommodated in said units, for locating and aligning saidcans in a desired position in said frame means.

7. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 4, wherein said second set ofpiercing tips is disposed in said bottom wall member.

8. A dispenser unit as defined in claim 4, wherein both said first andsecond sets of piercing tips are disposed in said bottom wall member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 757,611 1/ 1904 Gildemeyer 222-822,710,115 6/1955 Chandler 222-82 X 2,899,106 8/1959 Weinert 222-823,195,779 7/1965 Nicko 222-82 3,200,994 8/ 1965 Levinson et al. 222-823,352,457 11/1967 Tracy et al. 222-52 FOREIGN PATENTS 535,172 4/ 1941Great Britain.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

-HADD S. LANE, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 222-82, 86,

